Chapter 100: Joint Meridian Opening (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Joint Meridian Opening (2)
The third severed meridian was open.
It was only possible because master and disciple had worked as one, circulating their internal energy in unison. The full support of the Azure Medicine Pavilion had also been a massive help. Had Namgung Jun been alone, he never would have been able to achieve this.
Of course, he would have eventually succeeded on his own, but only after a considerable amount of time.
The third severed meridian, which had blocked the advance of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula like a fortress gate, burst wide open.
Through the cleanly cleared channel, the energies of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, the Spear King Azure Aura, and the spirit elixir flowed in sequence.
However, there was no time to bask in the joy of his success.
The moment the meridian opened, an immense pain battered his entire body, and he had to fight with all his might just to keep from losing consciousness. Although he was sitting cross-legged in meditation, it felt as if his body were being violently tossed about.
And that was not all.
Roar!
Simultaneously with the opening of the third severed meridian, the condensed Yin Cold Qi that had been sealed within went wild, rampaging in all directions. Its power was so immense that it easily pushed aside the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula filling his major meridians and took its place.
‘This is serious.’
Even as his consciousness grew hazy, Namgung Jun accurately grasped his internal situation. The Yin Cold Qi accumulated in the third severed meridian was no ordinary force. Even with Lee Se-ha lending her strength from behind, it was difficult to oppose.
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula was pushed back helplessly before the Yin Cold Qi, whose violent nature grew stronger by the moment. Meanwhile, Lee Se-ha's internal energy desperately defended his major acupoints, trying to block the Yin Cold Qi’s expansion.
While Lee Se-ha protected the meridians, Namgung Jun used his scorching yang qi to chip away at the Yin Cold Qi from its edges, but it was clear this would take a great deal of time.
Could Lee Se-ha hold out until the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula completely gathered and refined the Yin Cold Qi into internal energy?
That was the key.
‘It’s going to be difficult.’
Just as Namgung Jun struggled to find an answer, weighing the time needed against the disparity in their power, an unexpected change occurred.
A portion of Lee Se-ha's internal energy, which had been thoroughly blocking the meridians, shifted and opened a path. Through that opening, the Yin Cold Qi surged forward at an extreme speed.
Master?
I will draw some of the Yin Cold Qi into my own body to disperse it. Focus on refining the rest as much as you can, my disciple.
If you do that, you could suffer a severe internal injury, Master!
Hmph. It's fine as long as it doesn't kill me.
Despite Namgung Jun's worries, Lee Se-ha was already putting her plan into action. A portion of the Yin Cold Qi was being guided exactly as she intended. By absorbing some of it herself, the master reduced the burden her disciple's meridians had to bear.
‘So this is the Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian.’
Even with her eyes closed, focused solely on circulating her energy, she could feel it. Frost was gradually forming on the hand she had placed on her disciple's Mingmen Acupoint. On top of that, an immense chill was pouring out from Namgung Jun's entire body.
Lee Se-ha felt her own body stiffen from the cold, her circulation of internal energy gradually slowing down. This was a phenomenon one would only experience when helplessly overpowered by a supreme master of ice arts.
Experiencing the power of the Yin Cold Qi firsthand, Lee Se-ha felt a pang of sorrow.
‘He has been enduring pain even worse than this, all by himself, until now.’
Her disciple had always shown a steadfast, serious, and unwavering demeanor. He had rarely shown any sign of struggle, even in front of his master. Seeing this now, she realized Namgung Jun had been bearing an immense, agonizing pain all alone.
She felt incredibly sorry for him, and her heart ached.
‘My disciple… it must have been so hard for you.’
Lee Se-ha calmed her turbulent emotions and focused on circulating her internal energy. Ultimately, she had to expel the Yin Cold Qi currently invading her own meridians as well, so that her disciple could absorb it as his own. To do that, she had to trap it in the Laogong acupoint of her palm and remain ready to push it back out at any moment.
While trapping the Yin Cold Qi that rushed into her, Lee Se-ha endlessly adjusted the scorching yang qi she channeled into Namgung Jun.
‘Master has taken on a portion of the Yin Cold Qi. I must finish this as quickly as possible.’
Grasping the situation, Namgung Jun focused his mind. He dredged up all the remaining internal energy in his dantian and focused it on suppressing the Yin Cold Qi. The more he could shorten the time, the less of a burden Lee Se-ha would have to bear.
Believing even that was not enough, Namgung Jun boldly mobilized the Spear King Azure Aura as well. The Spear King Azure Aura, which had previously done nothing more than guard the meridians and block paths, now clashed directly with the Yin Cold Qi.
Hummmmm!
The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, operated simultaneously by master and disciple, combined with the Spear King Azure Aura to block the rampaging Yin Cold Qi at every turn.
While Lee Se-ha's scorching yang qi, which had acted as a battering ram, now served as a defensive wall blocking the major acupoints, Namgung Jun delicately manipulated the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, slowly eating away at the Yin Cold Qi.
Ordinary internal energy would have only suppressed the Yin Cold Qi without being able to properly melt it down. However, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula fiercely devoured the frigid energy, refining and gathering it into a single stream of internal energy.
A portion of this purely refined energy was then swallowed by the Spear King Azure Aura, expanding its size.
Block, chip away, and devour.
Namgung Jun executed different methods of internal energy manipulation simultaneously across various parts of his meridians. It was a feat of control that would have been impossible without his memories of having once stepped into the peerless realm.
By the time the momentum of the Yin Cold Qi had finally waned, Namgung Jun was desperately driving his internal energy as if possessed. His desperate desire to relieve his master's burden and quickly clear the Yin Cold Qi was infused into his very efforts.
Perhaps because of the powerful intent infused into his energy manipulation, the movements of the Spear King Azure Aura, which had seemed slightly sluggish before, grew much swifter.
‘My proficiency in the Spear King Azure Aura is rising.’
Amidst the countless circulations of internal energy, Namgung Jun felt his mastery of the Spear King Azure Aura transforming. Perhaps because he had learned it relatively late, the scale of his Spear King Azure Aura had been on the smaller side. But as it absorbed the pure internal energy born from the harmony of scorching yang qi and Yin Cold Qi and raced through his meridians, the Spear King Azure Aura rapidly swelled in size.
Kwooooh!
However, the rampaging Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian was no pushover. The cold air flowing from Namgung Jun's body gradually thickened until frost began to form over him entirely. Even combining the Yin Cold Qi that had leaked during the first and second openings, it could not compare to the sheer volume of the third.
‘This is truly formidable. Absolutely relentless.’
The beads of sweat forming on Lee Se-ha's forehead froze instantly. Despite successfully opening the third meridian, the master and disciple had to battle the freezing cold of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian, which flooded them like an overflowing river.
And so, three days passed.
* * *
Crack!
A dull, air-splitting sound burst from the space between the master and disciple as they continued their qi circulation. It was the sound of radiating heat completely driving away the freezing cold of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian.
A change also occurred in their appearance. The two, who had been on the verge of freezing solid like white ice statues, began to steam as the thick ice melted rapidly away.
"Whew."
As Namgung Jun opened his eyes, Lee Se-ha followed suit, catching her breath.
"Jun, are you alright?"
"Master. You overexerted yourself."
"For my disciple, this is nothing."
Namgung Jun let out a bitter smile. He did not miss the disturbance in Lee Se-ha's aura. It was clear she had suffered an internal injury in the process of directly absorbing a significant amount of the Yin Cold Qi.
"It was a good experience," she said. "You could say it gave me the motivation to raise my proficiency in the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula even further. Even the achievement of Great Completion isn't enough. The Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian was truly dreadful, beyond imagination."
"First, it would be best to tend to your internal injuries."
The Azure Medicine Pavilion Master, who had been listening, immediately took Lee Se-ha's pulse.
"Hmm. It is not an extremely deep internal injury, but she definitely needs rest. It seems the Heavenly Sword Hall Master took on some of the burden of the meridian opening."
Hearing the Azure Medicine Pavilion Master's words, Namgung Jun's face darkened.
"Master..."
"It's fine, my disciple. The next opening will be much easier. We have today's experience, and we will both grow stronger."
Namgung Jun nodded.
"Of course."
* * *
As soon as Lee Se-ha returned to the Heavenly Sword Hall, she collapsed onto her bed. It was unavoidable, given that she had been drenched in the Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian. It was a great relief that she had not suffered an internal injury severe enough to be life-threatening.
Still, Lee Se-ha suffered from a high fever, as if she had come down with a severe body ache. Although she had herbal medicine from the Azure Medicine Pavilion, it seemed her illness would persist for the time being.
"Ugh... It's so cold."
Lee Se-ha huddled under her thick bedding.
"It's been a really long time since I've been this sick."
"Even powerful martial artists aren't immune to illness," Namgung Jun said, gently blowing on a spoonful of porridge before bringing it to Lee Se-ha's mouth.
"Still, this is quite a luxury. Having you nurse me like this, Jun."
Namgung Jun felt heavy-hearted. He felt as though Lee Se-ha had taken on the pain that was meant for him.
"Master. Please do not do this next time."
"Hmm. We'll see."
Lee Se-ha opened her mouth like a baby bird, as if demanding the next spoonful. Namgung Jun chuckled and brought the spoon to her. The moment Lee Se-ha leaned in, Namgung Jun tried to pull it back, but she was faster.
"No chance! You're still a long way off."
"I let you have that one on purpose. I didn't expect you to move so desperately, Master."
Lee Se-ha chewed the porridge and looked at Namgung Jun.
"This is nice and comfortable."
"You need to recover quickly."
"I know."
The master and disciple chatted quietly. Listening to Namgung Jun's stories, Lee Se-ha slowly drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The Ink Fragrance Department.
Kang Mong hurriedly entered the office of the Ink Lord, holding a letter.
"Ink Lord! A letter from the Sword Lord has arrived."
"The Sword Lord? A sudden message... did something happen?"
Springing up from his seat, Yun Gyeong-jong quickly examined the letter. It was extremely rare for the Sword Lord to send word first, especially considering he was in closed-door cultivation.
"Hmm."
As Yun Gyeong-jong quickly scanned the contents of the letter with tense eyes, the wrinkles around them deepened.
"Tsk. I wondered why he sent a letter out of the blue."
Clicking his tongue, Yun Gyeong-jong shook his head and sat back down.
"Did something happen?"
"No. It is a letter requesting that we urgently send some spirit elixirs he needs. It seems he is doing well."
Kang Mong, who had also been standing tensely, let out a sigh of relief. The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord was the very symbol of the Azure Heaven Association's military might. Because he was such an important figure, they couldn't help but be on edge.
"We must dispatch someone immediately. To check on the Sword Lord's condition as well."
Yun Gyeong-jong turned around. Dozens of wooden figures were placed on top of a map of the realm, representing the locations of the Ten Halls of the Azure Heaven Association.
"Currently, all halls except the Heavenly Sword Hall have left the main fortress on missions. And the Heavenly Sword Hall Master is recuperating from her internal injuries."
Although it was a simple mission to deliver spirit elixirs, they could not send just anyone. The recipient was the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord, the head of the Sword Fragrance Department. Furthermore, they needed someone who could do more than just deliver the elixirs—someone with the discernment to read the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord's condition, even if only slightly.
Although there was no one of Hall Master rank available to take on the mission, Yun Gyeong-jong immediately thought of someone else.
"We have no Hall Masters, but we do have someone comparable to one."
Kang Mong's eyes widened, as if he had thought of the same person.
"Could it be..."
"Let's entrust this to Namgung Jun for now."
At Yun Gyeong-jong's words, Kang Mong nodded.
"I will deliver the mission to the Heavenly Sword Hall immediately."
Before even half a day had passed, Namgung Jun confirmed the mission handed down from the Ink Fragrance Department.